Residents and counsel debate petition warrant articles to rescind Timberlane energy lease and to adopt 2.5% tax cap

Legal counsel for the district told a joint meeting of the Timberlane Regional School District budget committee and school board that a citizen petition to rescind the district's 2023 energy lease purchase agreement is lawful but would trigger the lease's non‑appropriation clause and potentially large practical costs.

At the meeting attorney Jim O'Shaughnessy of Drummond and Widsom said the 2023 warrant article authorized a 20‑year lease purchase agreement for up to $25,243,000 in energy savings equipment and related improvements and that the contract explicitly contains a non‑appropriation clause. "If the legislative body at annual meeting does not appropriate sufficient funds to make the lease payment due in the coming fiscal year, then the lease will terminate," O'Shaughnessy said. He added, "If approved, section 3 would require the district to cease use of the equipment at the end of this current term, which would be June 30, 2025. Remove and deliver the equipment to the…